Asian hornet QUEEN builds terrifying ‘mother nest’ in UK town after record sightings – how to stay safe
A MENACING queen Asian hornet nest has been spotted in Kent as sightings of the invasive species soar.
It comes just days after the government warned Brits to keep an eye out for the invaders after they swarmed in record numbers last year.
The species threatens local honeybees and pollinators.
The nest was discovered on the ceiling of the roadside Krusties cafe in Adisham by owner Paul Jeffries.
A Krusties cafe post to Facebook said: “Over the last 10 days we’ve had the opportunity of housing a ‘nest’ … so today I took the right decision and reported it to the agency.
“APHA (the Animal Plant and Health Agency) (was) very excited as this state of nest growth has never been witnessed in the UK, and first ever sighting.
“Safe to say, it’s been removed safely and off the Queen goes for DNA extraction etc, all in the name of science.”
British Beekeepers Association expert Gill Turner told The Sun the Asian hornets are coming across the English Channel from France in increasing numbers.
They’re either flying or hitching rides on boats and trains, the expert warned.
Ms Turner is anticipating more queen nest sightings over the summer.
She said: “The nests can produce large numbers of queens – anything from a dozen to a few hundred.
“People shouldn’t be frightened of them … they just get very defensive of their nests, which is when they become a problem.
“They’re very mild mannered when they’re out and about, so if you see one foraging, they’re not aggressive at all.
“When you spot them, put it in the Asian hornet app and somebody will pick it up and run with it.”
Ms Turner said the hornets were best identified by their “fabulous yellow socks” which brighten up their legs.
Of the nest spotted in Kent, she said: “It’s a very early stage nest. Whoever spotted that, well done, excellent job.
“They make a little tiny one early on. When they get bigger, when there’s more of them, they start to make a secondary nest, which tends to be higher up.
“It gets the size of a football, certainly.”
What to do if you're stung by an Asian hornet & symptoms to look out for
- Removing stingers
If anything is left on, or in your skin, the first thing you need to do is remove it carefully, according to the NHS.
- Brush or scrape the stinger sideways with your fingernail or the edge of a bank card.
- Do not use tweezers to pull out a stinger as you could squeeze poison out of it.
- Wash the area with soap and water.
- Easing your symptoms
If there’s nothing in your skin, or you’ve removed it, wash your skin with soap and water to help lower the chance of infection.
The bite or sting should get better in a few days. There are some things you can do to ease your symptoms.
DO
- Put an ice pack wrapped in a cloth or a clean cloth soaked in cold water on the bite or sting for at least 20 minutes, if it’s swollen
- Keep the area raised if you can
- Take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if the sting is painful
- Use antihistamines to relieve any itching
- Use a hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching and swelling
DON’T
- Do not scratch the bite or sting, as it could get infected
- Do not use home remedies such as bicarbonate of soda to treat the bite or sting
You should ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if:
- Your symptoms get worse or are not getting any better
- You were stung in your mouth or throat, or near your eyes
- You have tummy pain and are being sick
- You feel dizzy or lightheaded
- A large area around the bite or sting becomes red and swollen
- You have a high temperature and swollen glands
- You were stung more than once
- You’ve had a serious allergic reaction to an insect bite or sting before
Call 999 if:
- Your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- You’re breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you’re choking or gasping for air)
- Your throat feels tight or you’re struggling to swallow
- Your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- You suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- Someone faints and cannot be woken up
- A child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who’s unwell may also have a rash that’s swollen, raised or itchy.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Kent Beekeeping Association Asian hornet coordinator Sue Knights previously told Kent station kmfm: “(The Asian hornet) has arrived across the channel from France and is causing problems concerning pollination and honey crops.
“This year we are concentrating on trying to find queens so that they can be destroyed and also hopefully not build new nests this year.
“If they do build new nests this year then our job will be to find them and eradicate them.”
Earlier this week Chief Plant Health Officer Nicola Spence said: “By ensuring we are alerted to possible sightings as early as possible, the public can help us take swift and effective action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets.
“While the Asian hornet poses no greater risk to human health than other wasps or hornets, they can damage honey bee colonies and harm other pollinators.
“Please continue to be vigilant for any Asian hornets and if you think you’ve spotted one, report your sighting through the Asian hornet app or online.”
